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“When my mother was in Connecticut Hospice, she was so beautifully cared for by the staff. One day, I walked in, and a volunteer was sitting by her bedside while she was resting comfortably. The volunteer had been with my mother until I came. That level of care is what drew me to volunteer at The Connecticut Hospice. The notion that I could bring the same comfort to someone else has kept me volunteering for many years now,” said Sandy Piontek (Volunteer since 2018).
Hospice is unique as it is the only provider with Medicare Conditions of Participation that require volunteers to provide a significant portion of patient care hours. In 1983, when the Medicare Hospice Benefit was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Reagan, it was deemed that 5% of a hospice’s total care-giving staff is required to be unpaid (volunteer).
The Connecticut Hospice was founded in 1974 by Florence Wald, a nurse educator, and other healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and clergy. Volunteers have played a critical role from the very start. For example, also in 1974, CT Hospice provided the first hospice home visit in the U.S., conducted by a nurse and a volunteer. Today, The Connecticut Hospice relies on the invaluable contributions of over 200 volunteers who work alongside staff in its Branford in-patient facility and in homes across the state.
Volunteers provide a wide range of support to patients and families. Volunteers assist in all areas of operation, including hands-on patient care assisting the inpatient medical staff, homecare, arts & music, as well as spiritual care, social work, transportation, gardening. and special events.
The volunteer network includes working professionals, homemakers, retirees, students, and even grade school children involved in special projects.
Prospective volunteers undergo background checks and fingerprinting through the Dept. Of Public Health. They also receive professional training from our hospice staff, ensuring they are well-prepared to assist patients and their families.
Connecticut Hospice collaborates with local colleges and schools to integrate volunteer programs into community action initiatives. For example, we have a very special relationship with Yale University undergraduates. Students who are generally pre-med volunteers in the Patient Assist role. They are rigorously trained in body-mechanics and invited to shadow Dr. Brett Prestia under the John D. Thompson Institute program.
“As a physician at Connecticut Hospice, I see every day how essential our volunteers are to the care we provide. Their presence brings comfort, companionship, and a human touch that cannot be prescribed or charted. Whether they’re sitting at the bedside, offering a listening ear, reading to a patient, or simply being present in silence, volunteers meet emotional and spiritual needs in ways that deeply complement our medical care. They help create an atmosphere of dignity, compassion, and peace—not just for patients, but also for families and staff, " said Dr. Brett Prestia, Chief Liaison.
Volunteers are part of the heartbeat of our hospice. They remind us that healing isn’t always about curing—it’s about connection. Their time, presence, and kindness are gifts that have a lasting impact. Volunteers are humble, selfless and have a quiet strength as they work alongside the medical team during some of life’s most sacred moments. They are a core part of the team, and we learn so much from them. Connecticut Hospice draws from a rich well of diverse experiences, backgrounds, and talents that help our patients and organization thrive. Volunteers from all walks of life ranging from high school to retirement are valued in so many ways. We appreciate their dedication and emphasize again that anyone who desires to serve in any capacity has a respected place in our organization.
To learn more about volunteering at Connecticut Hospice, contact Joan Cullen at [email protected].
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Admissions may be scheduled seven days a week.
Call our Centralized Intake Department: (203) 315-7540.
